Join us for...the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies March 18 to March 31, 2016 You have noticed that the mythical home of Vul- the Lyric Opera Guild an- can. nounced a trip for February In addition, this tour and March, 2016, which we includes three days in Rome, call a trip to the Kingdom of which contains many de- the Two Sicilies. lights including the historic Well, that trip sold out in Roman Forum and Colos- 48 hours flat, and we have seum and St. Peter's includ- had inquiries from some ing the famous frescoes of who were disappointed in Michelangelo at the Vati- missing that opportunity. can. So...this will announce The Lyric Opera Guild a second trip that we are plans to take you on a trip to taking to , with a very these wonderful locales, and similar itinerary. You have along the way, of course, we one more chance! will take in some excellent opera performanc- es. Our tour guides will be Rob and Barbara In the first half of the nineteenth century, Seaver of Request Italy, whose sold-out trips before the unification of Italy, there existed in for the Lyric Opera Guild have taken us to Italy the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, refer- Lucca, Pesaro, the Aix in Provence Festival, ring to the Kingdom of Naples and the island Budapest, and Prague in recent years. of , with the principal city of . If you have been on one of the Seavers' tours, These were both known as centers of music we need not say more, as you know you are in and culture, particularly Naples, which was for a spectacular visit. If you haven't been on (and is) home to the San Carlo Opera, one of one of their tours, just ask those who have, and the great opera houses in the world. Rossini you will want to join us. and Bellini both spent substantial portions of We anticipate that this tour will be sold their career there. out, so even though we list a reservation dead- These areas contain some of the most line (see last page) of August 15, we urge you spectacular archeological and architectural to get in your reservation as soon as possible treasures in Italy, including the once buried in order to guarantee yourself a spot. city of Pompeii, the stunning Greek theatre at Here is our plan: Taormina, gorgeous medieval churches, and the ancient Greek city of Akragas (now called Friday, March 18, 2016. We depart from ). Plus, Sicily contains sweeping Kansas City with a destination of Naples, views over the Gulf of Naxos and Mt. Etna, Italy. sculpture, the most important collection of its kind in Italy. This evening we will enjoy a group dinner at another of Naples' fine restau- rants. Tuesday, March 22, 2016. This morning we will transfer to the Eternal City of Rome, and have an introductory tour of this amazing city including St. Peter's and the Sistine Cha- pel with the spectacular frescoes of Michelan- gelo, enjoying a group dinner that evening. Wednesday, March 23, 2016. This morn- ing we will visit the heart of the ancient city San Carlo Opera in Naples. of Rome, including the famous Colosseum Saturday, March 19, 2016. After our ar- and the Forum where so many great events rival in Naples at our centrally located hotel, of world history, including the assassination we will enjoy some free time to explore this of Julius Caesar, took place. The afternoon historic city on our own before enjoying a will be yours to explore other sights in Rome, group dinner at an excellent Neapolitan restau- but we will also offer an optional tour of the rant. Capitoline Museum complex or Villa Giulia, Sunday, March 20, 2016. We will have the famous home of Pope Julius II, which now an orientation tour of Naples, and then after houses the Museo Nazionale Etrusco, an enjoying a group lunch we will tour the famous San Carlo in Naples, one of the most historic and important opera houses in the world. Both Rossini and Bellini spent a good portion of their careers here. We will include an optional visit to the famed Capodimonte Museum in Naples, whose vast collection contains many impor- tant works. It is located in a grand palace built by King Charles VII of Naples begin- ning in 1738. The collection includes mas- terpieces by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Bellini, El Greco and others. Tonight we will attend a performance of Verdi's final The Roman Forum. opera, the comic , at San Carlo. Monday, March 21, 2016. This morning impressive collection of Etruscan art and arti- we will visit the city of Pompeii, once buried facts. We will enjoy a group dinner this eve- by the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius, and still pains- ning, and possibly enjoy a music performance takingly being restored by archeologists. In the (we are waiting for schedules to come out). afternoon we will see Naples' famed National Thursday, March 24, 2016. This morn- Archeological Museum (Il Museo Archeo- ing we will enjoy another side of this city, logico Nazionale di Napoli), home to treasures Baroque Rome, and have an optional tour of from Pompeii and Herculaneum as well as the Villa Borghese, which houses some of the Farnese collection of Greek and Roman the most spectacular paintings and statuary in Italy, including many works of Bernini, Ra- phael, Titian and Caravaggio. After a group dinner at an excellent Rome restaurant we will enjoy a farewell tour of Rome at night. Friday, March 25, 2016. Today we will fly to the City of Catania on the island of Sic- ily and then transfer to the gorgeous resort city of Taormina on the eastern coast of Sicily, where we will enjoy a group lunch and visit the famed ancient Graeco Roman theatre. Taormina was founded in the 4th century and Teatro Massimo in Palmero. was an early Greek and (later) Roman town. It Sunday, March 27, 2016 (Easter Sunday). is said to be an "achingly beautiful spot with Today we will visit the beautifully preserved gorgeous medieval churches, a stunning Greek ancient Greek temples at Agrigento, enjoy a theatre and sweeping views over the Gulf of group lunch and journey to Palermo. Naxos and Mt Etna." (Lonely Planet). It was Monday, March 28, 2016. Today we rediscovered by tourists in the 18th and 19th enjoy a tour of the major Sicilian city of Pal- centuries and was a favorite spot of Goethe ermo, and will have a group lunch at one of and D.H. Lawrence, among others. Palmero's many excellent restaurants. Palermo Saturday, March 26, 2016. This morning is the home of the historic Teatro Massimo, we will spend in Siracusa (Syracuse), the sec- another one of the world's great opera houses. ond most important artistic center in the Greek Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Today we will world. It is rich in Greek history and famed visit the city of Monreale on the slope of as the birthplace of the preeminent math- Monte Caputo, overlooking the fertile valley ematician and engineer Archimedes. After a called "La Conca d'oro" (the Golden Shell), group lunch we will enjoy a private tour of the famed for its orange, olive and almond trees. Teatro Bellini in nearby Catania and a visit to The medieval Cathedral at Monreale is one the Bellini Museum, and we hope to enjoy a of the great examples of Norman architecture performance that evening. The opera schedule and one of the great churches in the world. We has not yet been announced; if that is not pos- will enjoy a group lunch, have an optional tour sible, then we may enjoy a private recital of that afternoon of the Palazzo Abetellis which bel canto masterpieces in a charming Catanese houses the best art collection in Palermo, and courtyard. have a group dinner. We hope to schedule

Tour Cost: Land Arrangements plus air travel from Naples to Palermo...... $6,125 Airfare from Kansas City to Italy and back...... $1,500 Total...... $7,625

Added single supplement (if you want a single room at the hotels)...... $750 Temple Valley in Agrigento. another performance for that evening. Wednesday, March 30, 2016. This morn- ing will will enjoy a tour of the Teatro Mas- simo, have a farewell group lunch, enjoy some If you have any questions free time in the afternoon and then attend please call our Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor that eve- tour guide, Rob Seaver, ning at the Teatro Massimo. at (785) 505-7001 Thursday, March 31, 2016. We return (he is seven hours ahead of from Palermo to Kansas City. us in Europe, so please be Please note that this trip is longer than considerate), or most of our previous European trips; it is four- e-mail him at teen days including travel days. We hope you can join us! [email protected]. Thanks!

Cancellation Policy Your deposit and reservation constitute a contract for you to go on this trip. Upon receiving your deposit we will expend substantial sums to pay for your costs of this trip. If you must cancel, you will still owe the balance of the trip charge, but we will return whatever portion of your trip costs we are able to recover. We strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment in this trip. Please call your travel agent or check with trip insurance providers online.

RESERVATIONS - Kingdom of the Two Sicilies March 18-31, 2016 (please print legibly)

Full Names (as on driver’s license): ______Address: ______Phone: (____) ______E-mail address: ______[check one] Single Room Double Room, sharing with ______Any special dietary restrictions? ______

To reserve your spot on this trip, please send this form and a deposit of $1,000 per person by August 15, 2015. Your sending of a check constitutes a contract for you to join this trip. The remainder of your payment will be due on November 15, 2015. Please make your check payable to Lyric Opera Guild Trips and mail it to Don Dagenais, 5401 Brookside Blvd. # 503, Kansas City, MO 64112. If you wish to make your own air arrangements, let us know and we will deduct the air fare from your final payment (see trip cost summary above).